Office of the Historian

3. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Arab Republic0

Washington, January 29, 1963, 4:30 p.m.

1680. Dept believes it desirable, as occasions permit, remind President Nasser and other senior UAR officials, of strong U.S. interest in stability [Page 5] and independence North African states, including particularly Libya. Dept aware Nasser’s recent statement to U.K. Ambassador to effect he had no designs on Libyan oil fields and had cordial relations present Libyan Government. Nevertheless reports persist of UAR sympathy for elements opposed present regime Libya (as well as Tunisia and Morocco) and UAR should be under no illusions re importance we attach stability this area and particularly to security US installations and present regime Libya.

As suitable opportunities arise, and perhaps, on occasion Governor Williams visit Cairo, hope Embassy may be able reiterate U.S. interest this matter.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770.00/1-2963. Secret. Drafted by Newsom, cleared by Davies, and approved by Williams. Repeated to Benghazi, Tripoli, Tunis, and London and pouched to Algiers and Rabat.↩